Christians, how many times in our lives do we see going down physically as a good thing? No one really likes to see their pay check go down, their bank account go down, their retirement savings go down, or their health go down in any way. As kids we didn’t like to see our grades go down, allowances go down, our time to play outside go down, or the length of summer vacations go down. About the only thing we (Americans in a consumerist society) like to see go down is PRICES! Prices and maybe our weight on a scale are about the only things we see as positive or exciting that went down.
Today I want to encourage you that Down is the Way Up! You see, in my Christian walk, I have seen many ways how God works. One of the ways God works is to decrease you in the physical world, to increase you in the spiritual world (eternity). God wants to promote us, increase us, and extend our boundaries, but not at the cost of losing our relationship with Him. When you can physically see how everything will work out; how often do you talk to, cry out to, or consult God? For me, it used to be not very often. God wants to be involved in our daily life, but we have to invite Him, He is super polite and doesn’t force His way into our lives. Whenever God has decreased me (physically), it has always been for my good. He does it because He ultimately wants to increase me in the spiritual realm, and it often overflows back into the physical realm.
As Christians, who live in this society where down = bad, we have to fight against societal norms. If you are sick, you have prayed, but symptoms remain, look at the situation as God’s way of getting your attention. He allows you to be slowed down, so you can seek Him and find Him. If you are out of work, look for God, you will find Him, He is your provider. It is on His shoulders, not yours, to provide for your family. If you are headed through a spiritual wilderness, uncharted waters, remember one thing, as you are headed down in the world around you, you are headed up in God’s spiritual realm!
God promotes, increases, and rewards obedient servants who are faithful, despite what their circumstances look like. Realize that every step down (through the valley) is one step closer to the mountain top. It may take days, weeks, months for somethings to turn around. Some stuff takes longer: years, decades, for God to fully show how it works out for our good. I guarantee that if you embrace every step down, one day, as you stand before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, you will finally, fully, understand and see in His kingdom why Down is the Way Up, in Jesus name, Amen.
Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in your which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility] : Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained, but stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being. And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross! Therefore [because He stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, that in (at) the name of Jesus every knee should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue [frankly and openly] confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11 (AMP)
The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Matthew 23:11-12 (NIV)
Job – just hearing his name could make people cringe. No one wants to imagine God allowing their life to go the way of Job. If you want to read about Job going down, Read Job 1:13-19. All his children died, all his worldly possessions gone. It was horrible what happened, no doubt about it, but look at how Job viewed and responded in verse 20: Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, then he fell to the ground and WORSHIPPED. He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord,” Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God. Job 1:20-22 (NASB) (emphasis added)
Job went down, WAY down. Now understand that Job was a very successful and wealthy man. Nowadays a man of his position would not handle this devastation the way he did. I do not believe many people would have made it through this, but Job did, He made it through the trials, through the test, He made it to the other side, Job made it so far down he made it UP! He knew how to respond correctly to God’s chastening.
After Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him TWICE as much as he had before. The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. Job 42:10,12 (NIV) (emphasis added)
written and posted by Daniel Poggensee | 2016
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